Article
Immunology
Krisangel Lopez, Sarah N. Wilson, Sheryl Coutermash-Ott, Manette Tanelus, William B. Stone, Danielle L. Porier, Dawn I. Auguste, John A. Muller, Orchid M. Allicock, Sally L. Paulson, Jesse H. Erasmus, Albert J. Auguste
Summary: Cache Valley virus (CVV) is an emerging pathogen of significant importance to agricultural and human health in North America, with potential for substantial agroeconomic losses. Studies in murine models have revealed that CVV disease development is dependent on innate immune responses, particularly type I interferon signalling, and the development of a CVV in utero transmission model has shown high rates of transmission and disease outcomes. The high seropositivity rates and geographic expansion of competent mosquito vectors in North America highlight the need for interventions against potential epidemic and epizootic emergence of CVV.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Molly Baker, Holly R. Hughes, S. Hasan Naqvi, Karen Yates, Jason O. Velez, Sophia McGuirk, Barb Schroder, Amy J. Lambert, Olga Kosoy, Howard Pue, George Turabelidze, J. Erin Staples
Summary: An adult male from Missouri sought care for fever, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms. He had leukopenia and thrombocytopenia and was treated for a presumed tickborne illness. His condition deteriorated with respiratory and renal failure, lactic acidosis, and hypotension. Next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis identified a reassortant Cache Valley virus.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michele D. Bergevin, Victoria Ng, Paula Menzies, Antoinette Ludwig, Samira Mubareka, Katie M. Clow
Summary: This study investigated the seroprevalence of CVV in Ontario sheep flocks and identified farm management factors associated with CVV exposure. The results showed that 33.2% of mature ewes were CVV seropositive, and factors such as increased age, smaller flock size, and proximity to wetlands, lakes, or ponds were significantly associated with higher odds of CVV seropositivity.
Article
Immunology
Constentin Dieme, Kiet A. Ngo, Shaun Tyler, Joseph G. Maffei, Steven D. Zink, Alan P. Dupuis, Cheri A. Koetzner, Chelsea Shultis, Jessica Stout, Anne F. Payne, P. Bryon Backenson, Lili Kuo, Michael A. Drebot, Alexander T. Ciota, Laura D. Kramer
Summary: This study investigated the transmission of Cache Valley virus in New York by conducting surveillance and analyzing isolates from different sources. It identified different lineages of CVV and observed changes in their transmission dynamics in New York and Canada.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Elizabeth Walsh, Tran Zen B. Torres, Claudia Ruckert
Summary: The piRNA pathway in Culex spp. mosquitoes is connected to mosquito antiviral immunity, with Piwi4 gene playing an antiviral role. However, there is limited knowledge about the antiviral role of the piRNA pathway in Culex spp. mosquitoes, indicating the need for further research.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jinxin Meng, Fei Wang, Yuwen He, Nan Li, Zhenxing Yang, Jun Yao, Shunlong Wang, Guodian Xiong, Zhiming Yuan, Han Xia, Jinglin Wang
Summary: A novel Oya virus (OYAV) isolate SZC50 was sequenced from midge samples and its host tropism was tested in vitro, showing high susceptibility in pig-derived cell lines. High prevalence of OYAV SZC50 neutralization antibody was found in Yunnan pig serum samples. Pathogenicity of OYAV SZC50 was demonstrated in animal models, with adult and suckling mice being extremely susceptible and chicken embryos showing a fatality rate of 37.5%.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saumya Gupta, Adam J. Blake, Jeffrey A. Riffell
Summary: A new study reveals a distinct pattern of preference for human-associated olfactory cues that informs the selective behavior of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.
Review
Virology
Solene Cottis, Adrien A. Blisnick, Anna-Bella Failloux, Kenneth D. Vernick
Summary: Mosquito-borne diseases, caused by viruses and parasites, result in over 700 million infections annually. Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes are the primary vectors for malaria and arboviruses. While Anopheles mosquitoes are the main vector for the alphavirus o'nyong-nyong virus (ONNV), which is closely related to chikungunya virus (CHIKV) vectored by Aedes mosquitoes, they also harbor a complex natural virome of RNA viruses, including pathogenic arboviruses. The vector specificity between these arboviruses is poorly understood, but this article summarizes intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with it and evaluates the risk of vector shift by ONNV or CHIKV.
Article
Immunology
Omar Al-Heeti, En Ling Wu, Michael G. Ison, Rasleen K. Saluja, Glenn Ramsey, Eduard Matkovic, Kevin Ha, Scott Hall, Bridget Banach, Michael R. Wilson, Steve Miller, Charles Y. Chiu, Muniba McCabe, Chowdhury Bari, Rebecca A. Zimler, Hani Babiker, Debbie Freeman, Jonathan Popovitch, Pallavi Annambhotla, Jennifer A. Lehman, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Jason O. Velez, Emily H. Davis, Holly R. Hughes, Amanda Panella, Aaron Brault, J. Erin Staples, Carolyn Gould, Sajal Tanna
Summary: This study identified a case of Cache Valley virus infection transmitted through blood transfusion and emphasized the consideration of arboviral infections in patients with meningoencephalitis after blood transfusion or organ transplantation. The use of metagenomic next-generation sequencing can facilitate the preliminary diagnosis of rare, unexpected infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Jeremy Camp, Edwin Kniha, Adelheid G. Obwaller, Julia Walochnik, Norbert Nowotny
Summary: The study aimed to survey mosquito populations for TAHV in three floodwater habitats and describe host usage by predominant floodwater mosquito species. TAHV was identified in Ae. vexans mosquitoes captured along the Leitha River, with large mammals such as deer and boar being identified as hosts. The rescued virus sequence was similar to other isolates dating back to 1958.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Benjamin Skinner, Sierra Mikula, Brent S. Davis, Jordan A. Powers, Holly R. Hughes, Amanda E. Calvert
Summary: Cache Valley virus is a mosquito-borne virus known to cause fetal death and severe malformations in livestock, and has recently emerged as a potential viral pathogen causing severe disease in humans. Developing anti-CVV murine monoclonal antibodies can improve diagnostic capacity to detect CVV infections accurately and quickly.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul J. Wichgers Schreur, Rianka P. M. Vloet, Jet Kant, Lucien van Keulen, Jose L. Gonzales, Tessa M. Visser, Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt, Chantal B. F. Vogels, Jeroen Kortekaas
Summary: Rift Valley fever virus is a mosquito-borne pathogen that is harmful to ruminants and humans. More than 50 mosquito species are capable of transmitting the virus, but field transmission is influenced by various factors. Animal models to study the transmission of RVFV are currently lacking.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Chinmay V. Tikhe, George Dimopoulos
Summary: The microbiota of mosquitoes plays a significant role in their biology, impacting processes from larval development to adulthood. By manipulating the microbiota during the larval stage, it is possible to alter mosquito life history traits. Bacteriophages can be used as tools to modulate the mosquito microbiota, providing a potential mechanism for mosquito control.
Article
Microbiology
Gunjan Arora, Andaleeb Sajid, Yu-Min Chuang, Yuemei Dong, Akash Gupta, Kristen Gambardella, Kathleen DePonte, Lionel Almeras, George Dimopolous, Erol Fikrig
Summary: Malaria is a vector-borne disease caused by Plasmodium sporozoites, and mosquito saliva proteins can influence pathogen transmission and early infection. Anopheles gambiae Sporozoite-Associated Protein (AgSAP) interacts directly with Plasmodium sporozoites, inhibits inflammatory responses, and plays a role in early infection modulation. Individuals in endemic malaria regions generate antibodies against AgSAP, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for disease prevalence and epidemiological analysis.
Article
Microbiology
Carien van den Bergh, Peter N. Thompson, Robert Swanepoel, Antonio P. G. Almeida, Janusz T. Paweska, Petrus Jansen van Vuren, William C. Wilson, Alan Kemp, Estelle H. Venter
Summary: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne, zoonotic phlebovirus-causing disease that affects domestic ruminants and humans in certain regions of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean islands. This study tested mosquitoes collected in Ndumo, South Africa and found RVFV in a single pool of Aedes (Aedimorphus) durbanensis, suggesting its potential role as a vector in this region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between the identified virus and isolates from earlier outbreaks in the central South Africa, indicating long-term endemicity in the area. Further research is needed to understand the eco-epidemiology of RVFV and its associated vectors in the eastern tropical coastal region of southern Africa.